On October 11 this year, the International Institute for Central Asia (IICA) hosted an international round table on the topic: "One Belt and One Road: New opportunities for Central Asian countries".
This event became a platform for an open and constructive exchange of views between the expert-analytical and research communities and the heads of diplomatic missions of the Central Asian countries (CA) and China.
Deputy director of the CERR M.Kholmukhamedov made a report at the event.
During his speech, it was noted that thanks to the political will of the leaders of our countries, investment cooperation has intensified in the region, the implementation of significant cooperation projects in trade, industry, energy, transport, agriculture and other sectors of the economy has begun.
Uzbekistan attaches priority importance to the development and strengthening of relations with China, which is one of the key strategic partners for all Central Asian countries.
In his speech at the first China–Central Asia Summit, the President of Uzbekistan underscored the strategic importance of developing safe and shortest transport corridors connecting China with our region, with access to Europe, the Middle East and South Asia. An important component of the transport corridor will be the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan road and railway.
Taking into account China's technological leadership in the field of solar, wind and hydropower, it was also proposed to expand close scientific and practical partnership in alternative energy.
"All these issues are relevant for all Central Asian countries and the new mutual Format of cooperation will only contribute to solving these issues in the interests of all Central Asian countries and China. The experience of developing China's economy on the basis of advanced technologies is of great interest for the countries of our region," M.Kholmukhamedov noted.
Speaking about the potential of trade turnover between the countries of the region and China, the expert noted that in recent years the economies of the Central Asian countries have demonstrated high growth rates of 5.5% on average, the total GDP of the Central Asian countries has grown 1.4 times over the past 6 years from $291 billion to $406 billion.
China is among the main trade, economic and investment partners of all Central Asian countries and occupies the top 1-3 places in the trade turnover of Central Asian countries.
Over the past 6 years, the total trade turnover of the Central Asian countries with China has increased by 2 times from $24.3 billion to $49.6 billion, export by 1.8 times from $14.5 billion to $26.4 billion, import by 2.4 times from $9.8 billion to $23.2 billion. China's share in the trade turnover of the Central Asian countries increased from 18.4% to 22.2%.
Uzbekistan's trade turnover with China has grown 1.9 times over the past 6 years from $4.7 billion up to $8.9 billion, export increased 1.2 times from $2.0 billion up to $2.5 billion, import increased 2.4 times from $2.7 billion up to $6.4 billion.
China's share in Uzbekistan's foreign trade in 2022 was 17.9%, in export - 13.0%, in import - 20.9%.
It was emphasized that in the first half of 2023, China became the first trading partner of Uzbekistan, China's share in the total turnover of our country amounted to 18.1%.
In addition, there are 1,860 enterprises with Chinese capital operating in various sectors of the economy of Uzbekistan, which is 2.3 times more than 6 years ago. Stable growth is also observed in the investment sector. The total volume of mastered Chinese investments has increased 5 times since 2017 and amounted to $11 billion. In 2022 alone, $2.2 billion of Chinese investments were disbursed.
The deputy director of the CERR noted that for the next 7 years Uzbekistan has set even more ambitious goals in the socio-economic sphere.
The goal is to ensure 2-fold GDP growth to $160 billion and to increase GDP per capita from the current $2.2 thousand to $4 thousand, which will allow Uzbekistan to enter the list of countries with the above average income per capita.
To this end, it is planned to attract investments in the amount of $250 billion by 2030, of which $110 billion. foreign investments and $40 billion within the framework of public-private partnership.
The volume of export is planned to increase by 2 times to $45 billion, including export of IT services to $5 billion.
The achievement of these indicators will be facilitated by the expansion of cooperation with China and the introduction of Chinese best practices in the regions.
Speaking about the potential for the development of "green" growth in the country, the expert noted that in conditions of reduced water resources and climate change, the transfer of acreage to water-saving technologies will accelerate, while the average income per hectare is planned to increase from $3 thousand to $5 thousand, and the share of processing of farmed agricultural products will increase from 8% to 25%.
Special attention will be paid to the issues of energy efficiency in the economy, which will be increased by 2 times.
It is planned to increase the capacity of renewable energy sources to 25 thousand MW, and their share in total electricity generation from the current 14% to 40% and produce 50 billion kilowatt-hours of "green energy".
In his speech, M.Kholmukhamedov noted that in the coming years the poverty level in the country is planned to be reduced by 2 times. The positive experience of China will be actively considered in this issue.
In addition, when implementing these large-scale tasks, it is planned to expand cooperation with China, in particular, in the following areas:
Uzbekistan's cooperation with China in these areas involves the expansion of investment cooperation and cooperative ties, as well as the exchange of experience and assistance in the training of qualified personnel.
"The implementation of the Belt and Road projects will benefit not only Uzbekistan, but also all countries participating in the project by expanding cooperation in trade and investment. Thus, this project will create a win—win situation for all participants and thus calls for active collective actions of countries for cooperation," M.Kholmukhamedov noted.
At the end of the event, the participants noted that the international round table made it possible to discuss at the expert level the significance and relevance of the "One Belt, One Road" project for the countries of the region and China, as well as to develop proposals and initiatives that will be aimed at its further development.
CERR Public Relations Sector
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